Laptops Arena

Panasonic announced updated Toughbook eLite notebook PC line, which now features various laptop chassis colors for W5 and Y5 PC series. Toughbook eLite W5 and Y5 offer magnesium alloy cases and shock mounted hard drives. The Y5 also includes a water resistant, “spill through” keyboard.

The ultraportable Toughbook eLite W5, featuring 12.1-inch anti-glare display, is now available for purchase in Steel Gray, Merlot, Galaxy Black, Glacier White, Blueprint, Rosehip and the new Crown Blue colors. The eLite W5 has an 8-hour battery life, and weights 2.7 pounds, the press release says.

Toughbook eLite W5 is powered by Intel Core Solo U1400 ultra-low voltage (ULV) processor at 1.2GHz, 512MB of DDR2 main memory, which is expandable up to 1536MB, and has an integrated Intel 945GMS graphics card with maximal 128MB of shared memory, 60GB hard drive and a combo drive (DVD-ROM/CD-RW).

Toughbook W5 features Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG and optional integrated EVDO and HSPDA connections, as same as LAN and a 56K modem. It provides external video VGA out, two USB ports, a PCMCIA card and a Secure Digital Card.

The thin-and-light 14.1-inch screen eLite Y5 Toughbook will be available next month in six colors, including Steel Gray, Galaxy Black, Skylight Blue, Firehouse Red, Deepsea, and Bronze Brown. The Y5 weighs 3.4 pounds and is claimed to has up to 6-hours of battery life.

The eLite Y5 incorporates Intel Core Duo processor, 512MB up to 1536MB of memory, 945GMS integrated video controller and a standard wireless card, along with optional EVDO, HSPDA and Bluetooth. It also has built-in LAN and a 56K modem, as same as two USB ports, PCMCIA card slot, Secure Digital Card slot and a VGA out.

Panasonic Toughbook eLite W5 will be available this month and will have starting price of $2,400. The Y5 model is scheduled to ship in December with $2,570 price tag.

Via laptoping.

The Panasonic Toughbook series isn’t for ordinary computing mortals! Infact these notebooks pretty much live up to their names as Panasonic has always targeted them to law enforcement agencies and for other onsite usage. Now there is a new model on the horizon to continue the Toughbook legacy.

The Toughbook 30 is powered by the Intel® Centrino Duo Mobile Technology and is housed in a magnesium case for added protection. This tough cookie also has integrated 802.11 a/b/g wireless LAN and has been tested for ruggedness. It comes Genuine Windows® XP Professional and includes a floppy drive too! Something which is amiss in all the new crops of computers.

As of now there is no word on availability but the base model will be available at an estimated street price of $4,699. The Panasonic CF-30 is also on display at Police conference in Boston.

Via mobilewhack.

Those who are enamored by the Panasonic Toughbook Series but are not too gung-ho about the other available options, should check out the Panasonic Toughbook CF-19, the latest addition to the Toughbook family. The Panasonic Toughbook CF-19 also lives up to its legacy when it comes to durability and functionality and is also backward compatible with existing vehicle mount solutions.

When it comes to specs, the Panasonic Toughbook CF-19 doesn’t disappoint with its Intel Core Duo Processor U2400 and Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional SP2 as OS. The base model comes with an 80GB hard disk and 512MB of RAM. Connectivity options include, Wi-Fi, LAN, WAN Bluetooth and GPS.

The Panasonic Toughbook CF-19 will retail for will be $4,199.

Via mobilewhack.

AkihabaraNews shows us just how much abuse the CF-Y5 — a semi-rugged laptop that features a shock resistant case and waterproof sheet/drainage system — can take. Just to recap, this notebook sports an Intel Core Duo T2300 (1.5-GHz) processor, up to 1GB of memory, 60GB hard drive, and a DVD burner. External interfaces include built-in Ethernet, a PC Card slot, VGA output, and an SD card reader.

Via techeblog.

Just as you wouldn’t wear cowboy boots to a black-tie ball, you would probably never carry a rugged notebook into a mahogany-paneled boardroom.

The Panasonic Toughbook CF-74 is an exception. This semi-rugged sytem is made for highly mobile people who are tired of replacing less-durable notebooks but want something that still looks, acts, and runs like a mainstream machine.

There are three aspects of this Panasonic CF-74’s design we don’t like: One is the bulge on the bottom panel that’s required to house this model’s capacious battery. This bulge not only adds extra thickness, it also tends to press a groove in your thighs while sitting on your lap.

Speaking of bulk, its 1.7-pound AC adapter is the heaviest we have seen in quite a while. Finally, we understand that the doors over each of the connectors may deter dirt and moisture, but they may confuse some users. They offer no indication of what’s behind each one.

Creature comforts tend to be lacking on semi-rugged notebooks, but not here. The keyboard has a good feel, the Synaptics touchpad works well, and the touchscreen does not require a stylus; you can use your finger. Of course, if you do want a stylus, Panasonic has supplied one, along with two storage sheaths, thoughtfully located on each side of the Panasonic CF-74 notebook.

It’s not a unique feature for this class of system, but the ToughBook CF-74’s carrying handle is particularly useful, even for carrying the notebook short distances. In fact, after a few days, we began to wonder why every notebook doesn’t have one.

View full review here.